St. Macartin of Clogher, Bishop(Macartan, MacCartan, Maccarthen)

26 March

Died c. 505; feast day formerly
March 24.
Saint Macartin (in Irish -
Aedh mac Carthin) was an early disciple and companion of Saint Patrick
during the latter's missions into pagan territory. He is said to have
been consecrated bishop of Clogher in Tyrone by Patrick in 454. It is
said the Saint Brigid, Macartin's niece, was present at the founding of
the see. Tradition names Macartan as the "strong man" of Saint Patrick,
who established the church in Clogher and spread the Gospel in Tyrone
and Fermanagh.

Macartin is also one of the earliest Irish saints to be known as a
miracle-worker. His holiness is revealed not so much by any
"vita," which are non-existent, but by the high veneration in which he
is held. Saint Bede records that the earth was taken from his grave as
holy relics. His Office is the only one to survive from an Irish
source.

A reliquary, called the Great Shrine of Saint Mac Cairthinn, which was
designed to contain relics of the True Cross as well as his bones, has
been altered over the centuries but still survives as the "Domnach
Airgid" in the National Museum. Its inner yew box was given to
Macartin by Patrick together with the latter's episcopal staff and
Bible.

The Cloch-Oir (Golden Stone), from which this ancient diocese takes its
name, was a sacred ceremonial stone to the druids, It was given to
Macartin by an old pagan noble, who had harassed Macartin in every
possible way until the saint's patient love won the local ruler to the
faith. The stone is still preserved and the noble's son, Tighernach of
Clones, succeeded Macartin as bishop
(Benedictines,
D'Arcy,
Farmer,
Healy,
Kenney,
Montague,
Muirhead,
Needham).